PROGRAMS >> PROJECT LEAF

While children may not necessarily be exposed to pesticides by working or playing in the fields, they frequently come into contact with significant amounts of these substances through residues unwittingly brought home by their parents from residues left on their bodies and clothing.  Children are also exposed to pesticides in farmworker housing, from sources such as drift, proximity to fields or in-home use of pesticides.  Recent studies have indicated that these take-home/in-home exposures put children at risk for acute and chronic illness, and signal the need for greater awareness among farmworker families.

In 2009 AFOP will launch Project LEAF (Limiting Exposures around Families) which will address these pertinent issues faced by farmworker families.  Using AFOP’s 13-year record of providing Pesticide Safety Training to farmworkers and their families, we will develop a training brochure and curriculum designed to inform and instruct farmworker parents on how to protect their children from take-home exposures.  Ultimately, we will deliver the training program to these parents and caregivers.